NEW ORLEANS, La.-Today, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated a Mississippi law that is similar to Louisiana's HB 388 requiring abortion physicians to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.  

A three-judge panel, which heard the appeal in April, ruled 2-1 in favor of the facility, saying the law "imposes an undue burden on a woman's right to choose an abortion in Mississippi, and is therefore unconstitutional." In the ruling, Judge E. Grady Jolly argued that "Mississippi may not shift its obligation to respect the established constitutional rights of its citizens to another state."

The Jackson Women's Health Organization has been fighting the 2012 Mississippi law requiring that doctors at abortion clinics must gain admitting privileges at local hospitals. When the abortion physicians failed to get admitting privileges, the state attempted to enforce the law and shut the facility's doors. The organization filed suit against the law arguing that closing the state's only facility was unconstitutional.

After a basic review of the decision, Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper said,"We are confident that this decision will not impact the implementation of Louisiana HB 388, set to go into effect on Sept. 1."